Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Tuesday November 12, 2024
Canada Cannot Wait: Urgent Action Needed as U.S. Migrant Crisis Moves North
November 8, 2024
As Donald Trump prepares to take office again, Canada faces an impending crisis at its southern border. Trump’s commitment to mass deportations of undocumented immigrants in the U.S. could lead to a significant uptick in migrants attempting to cross into Canada, fleeing the threat of deportation in search of refuge. With two and a half months left until Trump’s inauguration, time is short, and Canada is unprepared for the consequences. Border officials, community groups, and advocates are sounding the alarm, yet there is a concerning lack of urgency from both the Trudeau government and the opposition. The need for a united, proactive, and practical approach is clear—if action is not taken immediately, Canada risks becoming overwhelmed by a migration surge that we are ill-equipped to handle.
The U.S.-Canada border, the longest in the world, is an expansive frontier that is not easily secured in every area. Even in the best of times, managing it requires resources, planning, and coordination between federal and provincial governments. The changes to the Safe Third Country Agreement last year eliminated the Roxham Road loophole, but the RCMP and border officials warn that people desperate for a safe haven will simply find other, more dangerous routes. Sgt. Charles Poirier of the RCMP confirmed that Canada’s federal police force has been planning for an influx along these remote paths but still requires more resources, personnel, and facilities to be ready for the worst-case scenario. With a lack of manpower at the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), the union representing border officers has stated that at least 2,000 to 3,000 more officers are needed to handle additional pressures effectively. Canada’s border cannot function effectively or humanely under the strain of a major surge without these essential resources.
News: Canada prepares for a rise in border crossings with threat of mass deportations under Trump
March 29, 2023
Canada’s immigration system is already under tremendous pressure. Our urban centres, particularly in Quebec and Ontario, have limited affordable housing. Canadian housing markets are stretched beyond capacity, with escalating rents and limited supply in both major cities and smaller communities. While immigration is vital to our economic growth, we are now dealing with the consequences of failing to provide sufficient housing and infrastructure to support newcomers. More migrants crossing the border without clear plans in place will only worsen these issues, adding to the strain on our social services and healthcare systems, which are already struggling to meet demand.
March 3, 2023
Canada is in no position to delay action. Yet, despite the immediate need, there has been little political response from the Trudeau government, aside from broad assurances of readiness from Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland. Meanwhile, it is unclear what Pierre Poilievre, the Conservative leader and potential future prime minister, proposes for Canada’s border. This should not be a matter for partisan bickering. With the U.S. election results clear, our leaders should have already convened to discuss a cross-party approach to a secure border strategy, ensuring Canada’s response prioritizes both compassion and pragmatism. Canada needs a unified stance, with every party working toward the same goal of preserving national integrity and security while managing the impending human impact.
It is critical that Canada establishes a balanced, decisive approach to processing asylum seekers and other migrants who may be forced north. This involves preparing our border forces to patrol effectively and humanely, securing facilities to house and process individuals, and instituting clear policies on documentation, security checks, and procedures for asylum claims.
News: RCMP already ‘on high alert’ for potential wave of migrants after Trump election
June 23, 2021
Canada must also take steps to ensure migrants understand the risks of illegal crossings, which can be deadly, especially in winter. The RCMP has reported tragic cases of hypothermia, frostbite, and even fatalities among those who have attempted to cross the border in recent years. We should provide clear, transparent information to prevent unnecessary tragedies and work to dissuade migrants from pursuing perilous routes.
At this juncture, Canada must also recognize its limits. We cannot absorb an influx of migrants beyond what we already handle each year without severely impacting housing, healthcare, and social services. Canada should look to work with international partners and humanitarian agencies to coordinate a response that addresses the broader regional implications of the U.S. crackdown on undocumented migrants.
October 14, 2021
This is a delicate, deeply consequential issue that demands a tough but fair response. Canada is a compassionate, welcoming nation, but to maintain this openness, we must ensure our borders and systems are not overrun. Canadians need to know that their government has a plan—a responsible, humane, and proactive approach to securing our border and managing any increase in asylum seekers resulting from U.S. policies.
This is not a crisis Canada can afford to leave to chance. Immediate action, resource allocation, and cross-party commitment are needed to ensure a balanced approach that protects our country while upholding our values. Canada’s response must begin now.
It’s baffling, honestly, why there isn’t more urgency in Canada about the wave that could soon be moving toward us. We know Donald Trump’s election victory has resurrected his immigration agenda, with a cornerstone policy aimed at deporting millions of undocumented migrants from the U.S. And there are only two places they could go: south to where they escaped, or north to us. Given that many entered through the southern U.S. border, one might guess that returning to the life-or-death situations they fled won’t be their first choice. They likely won’t wait around until Inauguration Day to gamble their futures. These individuals have endured family separations and seen kids held in cages, with the stark memory of it all still very much alive. Now, with the promise of new internment camps looming. internment camps, that’s right. Can anyone really blame them for looking to Canada?
Our government has expressed sympathy for immigrants, but we’ve yet to see any coherent plan or concrete support to prepare for what’s coming. Canada needs immigrants, and historically, we’ve done our part by accepting waves of new Canadians. It’s only right as a G7 country, especially since we’ve played a role in the conflicts and displacements that drive many to flee: think Afghanistan, Syria, Libya, and beyond. This is a country of immigrants, built by waves of people who needed a second chance.
However, we’re already feeling the strains of past decisions. Housing markets are tight, our social systems are stretched, and yet we can’t afford to pretend that we can absorb an unlimited number of people without a plan. Trump’s deportation plan won’t be a slow simmer; it’s going to boil over fast, most certainly within his first hundred days. Probably before the year is out. Yet here we are, divided, stuck in Ottawa’s political bickering, and apparently convinced that someone else will rise to the challenge.
What’s baffling is that as Trump gears up for mass deportations, Canada’s leadership isn’t visibly uniting on this issue. This is the time for non-partisan action—a coordinated, realistic plan with all-party support to manage both our security and our responsibility to those seeking safety. Canada needs to wake up to what’s coming and start preparing now.
– The Graeme Gallery
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